Meet the Team

Castle Hall's team brings deep experience across operational, risk, cyber and ESG due diligence.

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Christopher J. Addy

President & CEO | CFA FCA

Chris is the Founder and CEO of Castle Hall, where he leads a team of more than 100 professionals conducting operational, ESG, risk and cyber due diligence on behalf of more than 200 asset owners worldwide.

Chris is one of the industry’s very first operational due diligence professionals. After audit experience with both Deloitte and PwC, Chris began his due diligence career in 1997 with the Atlantic Philanthropies (a multi billion dollar foundation and early hedge fund investor). Chris then joined UBP (2001) and co-founded Amber Partners (2004).

Chris is an advocate for enhanced best practices across the asset management industry. In addition to his work at Castle Hall, Chris served for 6 years as a member of the CFA Institute Capital Markets Policy Council, acting as Chair for a maximum three-year term. 

Chris is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is a CFA Charterholder.

Anne Coady

Anne Coady

Managing Partner | CPA, CA, FICA

Anne leads the Abu Dhabi office and manages a global team of diligence analysts. She is responsible for the service delivery of more than 5,000 operational, risk and ESG diligence engagements across all strategies including long only, hedge funds, private equity, infrastructure, and real estate funds through DiligenceHubTM, Castle Hall’s award winning, online diligence portal.

Anne has more than two decades of accounting, operational and risk diligence experience, including almost a decade at PwC Cayman as Director of Global Compliance / Administrative Services, focusing on offshore corporate administration, structuring and directorships.

Anne is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA, CA) and a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (FICA) and has extensive experience in corporate governance, compliance and anti-money laundering and accounting best practices.

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Nico Acebedo

Senior Corporate Administrator | CP SSYB

Nico is the Senior Corporate Administrator at Castle Hall. His responsibilities include being a review partner for data and works with directors at the firm for contracting, NDAs, and supplemental trainings. He closely works with the Managing Partner and is highly involved in contributing insights which shape and affect management decisions across the Manila office.  

He started as an Associate Clinical Admin Coordinator at UnitedHealth Group (UHG). He was then designated as Operations Management Analyst and was part of the Director’s core team. Prior to Castle Hall, he was with ADP, LLC as an Account Manager where he catered to clients for Compliance Solutions in the mid-market space. 

Nico has a bachelor’s degree from the Visayas State University where he achieved Outstanding Thesis. He has a Six Sigma Yellow Belt and has credentials in change and project management. He finished his paralegal studies at the University of the Philippines Law Center in Diliman and is a Certified Paralegal.

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Alex Bernal

Chief Technology Officer

Alex is the Chief Technology Officer at Castle Hall, responsible for developing a comprehensive technology strategy that aligns with Castle Hall’s overall business goals. He oversees multiple areas of organization including Operational Support, Software Development, and Cybersecurity.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Concordia University and has a passion for Technology. He has extensive experience having worked in the IT field for the Financial Services industry since 2006.

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Sofia Chahel

Human Resources Manager

With a passion for people and a commitment to organizational excellence, Sofia brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team as the Human Resources Manager. 
 
Sofia has many years of experience navigating the dynamic HR landscape, bringing a refined skill set in recruitment, talent management, employee relations, corporate training and strategic planning. 
 
Her academic journey includes a bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs and Political Science from Concordia University, complemented by a post-graduate degree in Human Resources Management from McGill University. Sofia is currently pursuing her CPHR designation.
 
Passionate about fostering inclusivity and collaboration, Sofia believes empowered employees are the key to organizational success. Her ethos permeates through her approach to HR, ensuring our team thrives in an environment of growth and opportunity.

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Colby Currie

Director

Colby is a Director at Castle Hall. He conducts operational and investment due diligence reviews across a wide range of hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity and other alternative and traditional fund structures. He is also involved with training initiatives and oversees a team of Analysts.

Colby holds a Bachelor of Science from Queen’s University, and is currently pursuing the CAIA designation (Level II candidate).

Ben Lloyd

Ben Lloyd

Head Due Diligence Solutions - APAC

Ben heads Castle Hall’s business in Australia and leads client relationships and diligence activities in the broader Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining Castle Hall,  Ben has worked within the financial services industry in Australia focusing on providing technology and data solutions to superannuation funds and asset managers.

Ben graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in politics and his postgraduate qualifications include a postgraduate diploma in law, a postgraduate diploma in legal practice and the RG146 financial services qualification in Australia.  Ben started his career by qualifying as a solicitor and working as a lawyer in England and Wales specializing in financial services regulatory investigations and banking law.

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Isabella Mendoza

Senior Manager | CAIA

Isabella is a Senior Manager at Castle Hall. She leads the firm's data team which supports operational and investment due diligence reviews across a wide range of hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity and other alternative and traditional fund structures. She is also involved with training initiatives and oversees a team of Analysts.

Isabella holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Finance from the John Molson School of Business, and is a CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) charterholder.

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Chris Mitchell

Director

Chris is a Director at Castle Hall. At Castle Hall, Chris conducts operational due diligence reviews across a wide range of hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity and other alternative and traditional fund structures. 

Chris holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick.

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Jessica Pamenter

Business Solutions Manager

As the Business Solutions Manager, Jessica is responsible for sourcing and building new client relationships.  In her role, Jessica helps allocators assess and understand their due diligence needs and review Castle Hall’s efficient and cost-effective solutions. 

After graduating from programs at Dalhousie and McGill University, Jessica worked in a sales and relationship management role with a global hospitality organization gaining experience in business development, client management, and client retention.

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Vincent Piche

Director | CFA, CAIA

Vincent is a Director at Castle Hall. At Castle Hall, Vincent has been conducting operational due diligence since January 2008, with experience across broad asset classes and a wide range of strategies within long only, hedge fund and private equity structures.

Vincent began his career as an analyst with Fiera Capital Corporation, a leading Canadian institutional investment manager. Vincent holds a BA in Business Administration from Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Montreal, and is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) charterholder.

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Daryl Purdy

Vice President | CIM, CAIA, MBA

Daryl is a Vice President with Castle Hall, focused primarily on business development and marketing initiatives, bringing over 20 years of financial services experience including 12 years focused on alternatives investments.
 
Prior to joining Castle Hall, Daryl spent almost a decade with KCS Fund Strategies Inc., an independent investment consulting and management firm specializing in portfolios of Canadian hedge funds and due diligence on Canadian hedge funds.  While at KCS, Daryl gained deep insight into the Canadian hedge fund space, including operational due diligence requirements for broker-dealer firms registered in Canada, and co-authored an AIMA Canada award-winning article on the merits and characteristics of the Canadian hedge fund universe. Daryl was the founding Chapter Executive of the CAIA Canada Vancouver Chapter and has been a CAIA Exam Grader.
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Dale Robertson

Senior Manager

Dale holds the position of Senior Manager within the media team at Castle Hall. He leads the firm’s daily media monitoring coverage across the asset management industry for our clients. Dale also leads Castle Hall’s Reputational Due Diligence (RDD) product – the firm’s cost-effective validation of manager reputational risk through extensive media searches and public records, including regulatory filings, legal database and sanctions watchlists.
Dale is from the inaugural graduating class of the University of Guelph Humber where he obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) in Media Studies. Dale also holds a Diploma in Journalism from Humber College.

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Lloyd Rochester

Director

Lloyd is a Director at Castle Hall. At Castle Hall, Lloyd conducts operational due diligence reviews across a wide range of hedge fund, fund of funds, private equity and other alternative and traditional fund structures. Prior to joining Castle Hall, Lloyd was a Senior Investment Representative with Scotiabank’s discount brokerage division. Lloyd began his career as an Operations Specialist with Pivotal Payments, one of Canada’s largest independent merchant service providers.

Lloyd holds a BA in Economics from Concordia University in Montreal, has passed CFA Level I and has completed his Canadian Securities, Options licensing and Derivatives Fundamentals Courses through the Canadian Securities Institute.

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Emily Sweet

Business Solutions Manager

As the Business Solutions Manager, Emily is responsible for sourcing and building new client relationships.  In her role, Emily helps allocators assess and understand their due diligence needs and review Castle Hall’s efficient and cost-effective solutions. 

Emily holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. Prior to Castle Hall, Emily worked in an account manager role for corporate travel & commercial fleet rental while gaining experience in client management & retention, sales, operational management, and people development.

Emily enjoys continuing to build relationships, and learn from, new & existing clients!

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Zuha Talat

Senior Manager

Zuha is a Senior Manager at Castle Hall. She conducts operational and ESG due diligence reviews across a wide range of hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity, and other alternative and traditional fund structures. She is also involved with training initiatives and overseeing a team of Analysts.

Zuha holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Finance from McGill University.

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Marice Young

Head of Client Support

Marice is Head of Client Support at Castle Hall. Skilled in building Client Relations and Logistical Planning, Marice leads a team of experienced Client Support Specialists.  The Client Support team ensures all client inquiries are responded to as well as scheduling engagements across the firm.

After attending the University of New Brunswick,  Marice worked in the Accounting Field for both Manufacturing and Non-Profit Organizations. 

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Esther Zurba

Director | MBA, CAIA

Esther Zurba is a Director with Castle Hall, responsible for lending subject matter expertise across Castle Hall Diligence’s ongoing product development and client engagements: helping clients move up the due diligence value chain with portfolio risk management solutions. Esther has more than 20 years of professional experience including over 15 years conducting operational due diligence on global investment managers across all asset classes. Esther joined Castle Hall Diligence in 2012 from Scotia Capital’s Trade Operations and Risk Control group, where she conducted ODD on external asset managers supporting multiple business lines. Prior to joining Scotia Capital, Esther worked with Mapleridge Capital, a Toronto based short-term systematic CTA.

Esther holds an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, and BA (Hons) from University of Toronto. Esther is also a CAIA charterholder and is actively involved with the CAIA Association in various capacities, including as current co-head of the CAIA Toronto Chapter. Esther is also a member of AIMA Canada’s Education & Research, and Legal, Finance & Compliance Committees, and Digital Assets Working Group.
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Mathieu St.Jean

Senior Advisor

Mathieu has more than 20 years of experience in Financial Risk Management advisory services and in managing multi-asset and multi-strategy absolute return portfolios. The bulk of his experience was acquired building and managing the Absolute Return activities of CN Rail’s $18B Pension Fund. Mathieu was a senior member of CN Investment Division’s management committees on risk and portfolio design with a dedicated focus on LDI structuring, risk premia packaging, portable alpha diversifying exposures and tail risk management solutions. Previously, Mathieu worked at J.P. Morgan (Montreal and New York), TD Bank (Montreal and Toronto) and Scotiabank (Montreal) as a relationship manager and financial structurer in Canada and the U.S.

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Matthias Knab

Senior Advisor

Matthias Knab is an internationally recognized and highly connected expert on hedge funds and alternative investments with three decades of experience in information technology, consulting and finance.

In 2001 he launched Opalesque and started to produce the world's first digital newsletter focusing on hedge funds and alternative investments in February 2003. Opalesque to date has researched over 3,000 funds and distributed more than 400,000 articles as the leading news and research portal for alternative investments.

Matthias is also the publisher of Horizons: Family Office & Investor Magazine, the world's largest quality family office & investor magazine and producer of Opalesque.TV, the first dedicated video channel on alternative investments with over 2 million views.

The company has also been a pioneer in using webinar technology to help investors screen, understand and research large numbers of investment propositions. Responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 Opalesque started the CORONA FIGHTERS and the Small Managers - BIG ALPHA webinar series. Together with the new Opalesque VIRTUAL MANAGER VISIT videos, these digital formats have become cornerstones in the institutional investor and family office domains.

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Russell Scarcella

Senior Advisor

Russell Scarcella is an attorney and is a Vice President with Exiger, a leading global risk and compliance firm and one of the largest providers of investigative due diligence services to the financial services industry. Russell brings more than 25 years of legal and risk management consulting and advisory experience assisting clients in developing and implementing due diligence and operational risk programs. He has provided domestic and cross-border investigative due diligence consulting services across the alternative investment community, global corporations, as well as to multiple governments with respect to citizenship by investment programs. Russell is a graduate of University of Florida and received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

Russell leads Exiger’s relationship with Castle Hall, supporting Castle Hall’s clients as they seek background checks and reputational due diligence across asset management firms and individual executives.